Exercising device with rotatable handbar and pivotal turntable

ABSTRACT

An exercising device for use by an exerciser includes a turntable for supporting the exerciser and a frame for supporting the turntable about a pivot point. The turntable has an outer peripheral edge which is positionable to contact a fixed member lying in a plane disposed from the pivot point. The pivotal support of the frame allows the peripheral edge of the turntable to have a rolling contact with the fixed member. The exercising device also includes a handbar including a pair of handbar members, each of which may be gripped by the hands of the exerciser. The handbar device also includes means for connecting the handbar members and means for adjusting the positions of the handbar members with respect to each other. The frame rotatably receives the handbar members and constrains movement of the handbar members to a fixed circular path. The handbar device is rotatable about an axis so that the handbar members move in a fixed circular path when rotated by the hands of the exerciser. The frame is collapsible so that the exercising device may be stored or shipped in a compact configuration.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,713,653

Romans 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 541 EXERCISING DEVICE WITH 173,440 2 1935ROTATABLE HANDBAR AND PIVOTAL TURNTABLE [76] Inventor: John F. Romans,7521 Valley Villas Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44130 [22] Filed: Oct. 30,1970 [21] Appl. No.: 85,686

[52] U.S. Cl ..272/57 R, 272/57 A, 272/67 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 23/00[58] Field of Search ....272/57 R, 57 A, 57 D, 60, 67, 272/68, 79 R, 80

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,975,382 10/1934 Wrobley..272/57 R 2,126,443 8/1938 2,469,301 5/1949 2,714,007 7/1955 2,862,71012/1958 2,906,532 9/1959 3,062,543 11/1962 3,228,683 1/1966 3,428,3122/1969 3,516,661 6/1970 3,588,102 6/1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS425,573 5/1967 Switzerland ..272/57 A Switzerland ..272/57 R PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. ApleyAttorney-Yount and Tarolli [57] ABSTRACT An exercising device for use byan exerciser includes a turntable for supporting the exerciser and aframe for supporting the turntable about a pivot point. The turntablehas an outer peripheral edge which is positionable to contact a fixedmember lying in a plane disposed from the pivot point. The pivotalsupport of the frame allows the peripheral edge of the turntable to havea rolling contact with the fixed member. The exercising device alsoincludes a handbar including a pair of handbar members, each of whichmay be gripped by the hands of the exerciser. The handbar device alsoincludes means for connecting the handbar members and means foradjusting the positions of the handbar members with respect to eachother. The frame rotatably receives the handbar members and constrainsmovement of the handbar members to a fixed circular path. The handbardevice is rotatable about an axis so that the handbar members move in afixed circular path when rotated by the hands of the exerciser. Theframe is collapsible so that the exercising device may be stored orshipped in a compact configuration.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJANBO I973 3 7 l 3, 653 SHEET 10F 2ATTORNEYS PAIENIEDJAHO 1975 3.713.653

' SHEET 2 0F 2 M/VE/VTOR JOHN E PUMA/V5 EXERCISING DEVICE WITH ROTATABLEHANDBAR AND PIVOTAL TURNTABLE The present invention relates to anexercising device, and more particularly to an exercising device havinga turntable pivotally mounted about a point and a handbar devicerotatable in a fixed path.

Exercising devices having movable platforms are known. These platformsof the prior art are rotatable about an axis or rocked on a surfacewhich restricts the movement thereof to rotation about and axis. Suchrestriction in the movement of the platform prohibits the number ofexercises and movements an exerciser may perform when standing on theplatform. Exercising devices utilizing a handbar are also known. Onesuch device is shown in Hanson US. Pat. No. 3,516,661, which shows asingle free bar having angularly adjustable ends or grips. Such a bar isnot mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, but is rather manipulatedin the air by the user in the manner he chooses. As such, this exerciserhandbar of the prior art does not follow a fixed path or force theexerciser to perform predetermined gyrations which flex his body toexercise particular areas thereof.

One problem with such prior art exercising devices is that theseexercising devices are not sufficiently versatile so as to allow theexerciser to stimulate the various combinations of muscles in his body.In addition, certain prior art devices are not adjustable so as to beused by people of various sizes. In addition, many of the prior artdevices are difficult, if not impractical, to break down into a compactsize so that the device may be stored or moved from one location to theother with maximum ease.

The exercising device of the present invention is constructed so thatthe exerciser may stimulate various combinations of muscles in his bodyby a variety of different exercises. The exercising device of thepresent invention includes a turntable on which the exercisers feet maybe positioned and a handbar device associated with the turntable.

The turntable is pivotally supported for universal pivotal movementabout a pivot point. The turntable is constructed so as to wobble aboutthe pivot point due to the action subjected to it by the exerciser. Withthe exercisers feet positioned on the turntable, the exerciser may leanin any direction and cause a pivoting of the turntable so that theperiphery of the turntable engages a fixed member. The exerciser maythen cause a continuous rolling of the periphery of the turntable on thefixed member by a continuous leaning or rolling action. Of course, theturntable, due to its construction, allows a wide variety of exercises.

The handbar device which is associated with the turntable includes apair of handbar members which may be gripped by the hands of theexerciser. The handbar members are supported for rotation about an axisby a frame which constrains movement of the handbar members to a fixedcircular path. The handbar members extend at an angle to the axis ofrotation and as the handbar members are rotated through the fixedcircular path, the exerciser is forced to flex his wrists, arms andshoulders. The handbar members are adjustable relative to each other inorder to be used for different exercises.

When the turntable and handbar device are used in conjunction with eachother, various desired movements and body speeds will duplicateexercises in walking, jogging, running, swimming, dancing, rowing andcycling. Motions provided by this invention will exercise the feet,arches, ankles, calves, thighs, knees, hips, waist, abdomen, back,chest, shoulders, neck, arms, elbows, wrists, the grip of the hands, andmany other functions of the body. In addition, utilization of theexercising device of the present invention will increase thecoordination between various parts of the exercisers body.

The exercising device of the present invention is capable of beingadjustable so as to be used by people of various sizes. In addition, theexercising device of the present invention is capable of being brokendown into a compact size so that it may be stored or shipped to anotherlocation with relative ease.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved exercising device which is capable of being used tosimulate various exercises.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedexercising device which is adjustable so as to be used by people ofvarious sizes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved exercising device which is capable of being broken down to acompact size so that it may be readily stored or shipped to anotherlocation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved exercising device for use by an exerciser comprising aturntable which supports the feet of the exerciser and is pivotallysupported by a frame about a point and in which the turntable has anouter peripheral edge which rolls on the fixed member as the turntableis moved by the exerciser leaning in various directions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved exercising device comprising a handbar device with a pair ofhandbar members which may be gripped by the hands of the exerciser andare rotatably mounted on a frame so that the handbar members rotate in afixed path when moved by the exerciser and wherein the position of thehandbar members may be adjusted with respect to the axis of rotation ofthe handbar device.

Further objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from thefollowing description made with reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the exercising device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the exercising device shown in FIG. 1 andtaken along line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the exercising device as shown inFIG. 1 and taken along line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of the exercising device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a turntable for the exercising device of FIG. 4;and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the turntable shown in FIG. 5 and takenalong line 6-6 thereof.

The present invention provides a new and improved exercising deviceincluding a turntable pivotally mounted on a frame about a pivot pointand a handbar device rotatably mounted in the frame. The exercisingdevice of the present invention is versatile since many differentexercises may be simulated by the use thereof. In addition, manycombinations of exercises may be performed by the exerciser using thedevice of the present invention to exercise many parts of the body. Theexercising device of the present invention is adjustable so as to beused by people of various sizes. The exercising device of the presentinvention may also be broken down so that it is compact in size and maybe readily stored or shipped to different locations. The presentinvention may be applied to exercising devices of a wide variety ofconstructions and designs and for purposes of illustration is describedin the drawings as applied to an exercising device 10, as shown in FIG.1.

The exercising device of the present invention includes a turntable,generally indicated at 12, on which the feet of an exerciser arepositionable. A frame 14 pivotally supports the turntable 12 about thepivot point 16 so that the exerciser may move the turntable in manydifferent directions by shifting his weight without movement of his feetrelative to the turntable The turntable 12 has an outer peripheral edge18 positionable to contact a member 20 of the frame 14. It should beunderstood that the member 20 may be any fixed member with respect tothe frame 14. The member 20 limits the pivotal movement of the turntable12 about the pivot point 16 when any portion of the outer peripheraledge 18 of the turntable 12 engages the member 20. The exerciser, whenstanding on the turntable 12, may induce limited motion of the turntablesuch as oscillating, rotating, pivoting, orbitting, or ateeter-tottering action by shifting his weight as will behereinafter'more fully described.

The exercising device 10 also includes a handbar device, generallyindicated at 22. The handbar device 22 includes a pair of handbarmembers 24, 26, each of which may be gripped by the hands of theexerciser. The handbar members 24, 26 are connected together by atubular member 28. Adjusting means, generally indicated at 30, areprovided for adjusting the angular positions of the handbar members 24,26 with respect to each other. The frame 14 rotatably receives thehandbar device 22 so that the handbar members 24, 26 rotate about therotational axis 31 and thereby constrains movement of the handbarmembers 24, 26 to a fixed circular path indicated in phantom at 32.Thus, when thehandbar members 24, 26 are rotated by the hands of theexerciser about the axis 31, they move in the fixed circular path 32.

It will be apparent from the detailed description of the exercisingdevice of the present invention hereinbelow that the exercising device10 of the present invention is versatile and allows various exercises tobe simulated so that many areas of the body may be exercised. Theturntable 12 serves as a platform for the feet of the user who can causethe turntable to roll on its peripheral edge and thereby wobble aboutthe pivot point 16 by shifting his weight and without turning his body.The exerciser may also oscillate, rotate, pivot, orbit or teeter-totteron the turntable 12 to exercise various parts of his body.

The handbar members 24, 26 of the handbar device 22 may be adjusted withrespect to each other about their rotational axis 31. The portion of thehandbar members 24, 26 which are gripped by the exerciser are at anangle relative to the exercisers body. This angularity changes as thehandbar device is rotated which requires the exerciser to flex hiswrists and body to retain his grip.

Through the combined use of the turntable l2 and handbar device 22, theexerciser may use the exercising device 10 to simulate many exercises,suchas walking, jogging, running, swimming, dancing, rowing, cycling.These motions performed by the exerciser will exercise many part of hisbody, such as the feet, arches, ankles, calves, thighs, knees, hips,waist, abdomen, back, chest, shoulders, neck, arms, elbows, wrists, thegrip of his hands, etc., as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to provide a turntable 12 which moves in a manner ashereinabove described, the frame 14 includes the base member 20 to whichthe pivot member 34 is secured by any conventional means, such as thethreaded fasteners 36, as seen in FIG. 2. The pivotal member 34 has aportion 38 thereof having a generally spherical surface generated aboutthe pivot point 16 which is disposed from the plane 40 defined by themember 20.

In order to pivotally mount the turntable 12 about the pivot point 16, amounting member 42 is secured to the turntable 12 by any conventionalmeans, such as threaded fasteners 33 which threadedly engage theturntable 12. The member 42 has an internal surface 46, as seen in FIG.2, which is generally spherical in configuration and complementary withthe spherical surface 38 of the pivotal member 34. Member 42 iscentrally located with respect to the turntable 12 so that the turntablemay uniformly rotate and pivot about the pivot point 16. The peripheraledge 18 of the turntable 12 has a generally circular configuration andhas an upper surface 48 on which the exerciser places his feet and alower surface 50 to which the member 42 is attached. The turntable 12 issupported by the member 34 by positioning the turntable 12 thereon sothat the surface 38 is adjacent to the complementary spherical surface46 of the member 42.

When the turntable 12 is supported in the manner hereinabove described,the exerciser may, by shifting his weight, move the turntable in manyvarious manners. The primary motion from an exercising standpointwhich'could be induced in the turntable 12would be to wobble theturntable 12 about the pivot point 16 so that at least one point on theperipheral edge 18 thereof contacts the surface 40 of the member 20 atall times during the exercise. As the exerciser leans or shifts hisweight, adjacent points on the periphery of the turntable 12 will moveinto contact with the surface 40 of the member 20. Two such positions52, 54 of the turntable are shown in the drawings. In the position 54,shown in FIG. 3, a portion 56 of the turntable 12 is in contact with thesurface 40. The portion 56 is merely illustrative and other points onthe periphery of the turntable 12 come into contact with the surface 40successively as the turntable is wobbled. Such motion of the turntable12 may also be understood by viewing an axis which is perpendicular tothe turntable 12 and passes through the pivot point 16. Such an axiswould, on movement of the turntable in the manner described above,generate a cone having an apex at the pivot point 16, even though theturntable 12 does not rotate about the axis.

The turntable 12 is also free to pivot about any horizontal axis passingthrough the pivot point 16. Two pivotal axes and movement of theturntable 12 thereabout are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for purposes ofillustration. If the exerciser were standing on the turntable 12 facingthe handbar device 22, he could pivot or rock back and forth about ahorizontal axis passing through the pivotal point 16 and between thepositions shown in phantom in FIG. 2 by properly shifting his weight.Such pivotal movement would be limited by the contact of the peripheraledge 18 with the surface 40. Correspondingly, if the exerciser were inthe same position in FIG. 3, he could rock from side to side by shiftinghis weight and the turntable 12 would rock between the positions shownin phantom in FIG. 3. Thus, it is apparent from the above descriptionthat the exerciser may utilize the exercising device of the presentinvention to simulate many different exercises and exercise manydifferent muscles of his body by properly shifting his weight and movinghis body.

In order for the exercising device 10 of the present invention to becapable of being broken down into a compact size so that it may bereadily shipped to different locations or stored, the member 42 securedto the turntable 12 allows the turntable 12 to be readily removed fromthe frame 14 by simply lifting the turntable from the pivotal member 34.

The handbar device 22 is rotatably received by the frame 14 so that itmay be gripped by the hands of the exerciser and rotated about a fixedcircular path. The portion of the frame 14 which supports the handbardevice 22 includes a flange member 56 secured to the base member 20 byany conventional means, such as the threaded fasteners 58 as shown inFIG. 2. The flange member 56 has a central opening 60 which receives atubular member 62 therein. The tubular member 62 and the flange member56 have complementary openings therethrough which receive the pin member64, as seen in FIG. 1. The pin member 64 may be removed from thecomplementary openings of the tubular member 62 and flange member 56 sothat the frame assembly 14 may be readily disassembled.

The tubular member 62 has a tubular extension 66 connected thereto sothat the handbar device 22 may be rotatably mounted at a height which isconvenient to the exerciser. To effect such a connection, the tubularextension 66 has a reduced potion 68, as seen in FIG. 2, which isreceived in the tubular opening of the tube 62. A pin member 69 isprovided through a common opening in the tube 62 and tubular extension66, as seen in FIG. 2. The pin member 69 may be readily inserted orremoved from the complementary openings so that the tubular member 62may be readily disassembled from its tubular extension 66.

To allow the handbar mounting member 74 to be adjustably mounted on theextension 66, the tubular extension has a plurality of openings 70extending therethrough, as seen in FIG. 2. The handbar mounting member74 has an opening 76 therein, as seen in FIG. 2, adapted to slidablyreceive the tubular extension 66. A pin 72 may be inserted through thecomplementary openings 75, 70 in the member 74 and tubular extension 66,respectively, when the openings are in alignment. In such a manner, theheight of the axis of rotation of the handbar device 22 is positioned byproperly positioning the member 74 adjacent to the proper opening in thetubular extension 66 so that the proper height of the handbar device 22is obtained. Dependent on the height of the individual using theexercising device 10 of the present invention, the height of the handbardevice 22 may be adjusted to compensate for people of various sizes.

In addition, it may be clearly seen in FIG. 2 that the rotational axisof the handbar device 22 may be repositioned by rotating the member 74about the axis of the tubular member 66 from the position shown in solidlines in FIG. 2 to the position 82 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Sucha repositioning of the handbar device 22 may be used to compensate forindividuals of various sizes and exercise different muscles on differentpeople.

The handbar device includes a pair of handbar mem' bers 24, 26 whichinclude the portions 84 thereon to be gripped by the hands of theexerciser. Since the handbar members 24, 26 are at an angle to the axisof rotation 31 of the handbar device 22, it is necessary for theexerciser to flex his body to retain his grip and thereby variousmuscles are exercised. It should be understood that the grippingportions 84 on the handbar members 24, 26 rotate relative to the members24, 26 on which they are mounted.

The handbar members 24, 26 may be adjusted with respect to each otherabout their axes of rotation 31. The pin 86 of the adjusting means 30may be retracted from its position connecting the common openingsbetween the member 28 and the handbar member 24. When the pin 86 is insuch a retracted position, the handbar member 24 may be rotated to aposition shown at 88 so that the handbar members 24, 26 are in differentangular potions with respect to each other. The complementary openingsbetween the member 28 and the handbar member 24 are then aligned and thepin 86 reinserted through the hole so that the handbar member 24 issecured in the position indicated in dotted lines at 88. It should beunderstood that a similar operation could occur to reposition thehandbar member 26 to the dotted position 90 shown in FIG. 1.

When one handbar member 24, 26 is adjusted to its dotted line positionwith the other remaining in its full line position, the handbar members24, 26 extend in opposite directions from the axis 23. When sopositioned and rotated about the axis 23, the arms of the exerciser willmove through the fixed path, but will be out of phase. This results inexercise of the shoulders and back muscles. Also, this action causesflexing of the wrists, exercising muscles in the wrist and forearms.

Accordingly, by repositioning the handbar members 24, 26 angularly withrespect to each other, the exerciser can exercise different muscles ofhis body and flex his body in a different manner than when the handbarmembers 24, 26 are in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. Itshould also be understood that the position of the handbar members 24,26 with respect to each other may be adjusted in any manner, and thehandbar members may be positioned at any number of degrees out of phasewith each other.

A second representative embodiment of the handbar device as shown inFIGS. 4-6, and due to the similarity in design with the embodiment shownin FIG. 1, common reference numerals will be used in the descriptionthereof with the suffix a appended thereto.

The handbar device 22a functions in a manner similar to that describedin connected with the handbar device 22 of FIG. 1, with the exceptionthat it provides additional versatility by enabling adjustment of thegripping angle or the angle which the gripping portions 84a make withthe axis of rotation 31a. By varying this gripping angle, the exercisingfunctions may be varied. By increasing the gripping angle, the wrists ofthe exerciser are required to be flexed to a greater degree than whenthe gripping angle is smaller.

The angular position of the handgrip portions 84a is adjusted byproviding handbar members 24a and 26a with a pivotal connection to acentrally located rotational member 88. The member 88 is rotatablyreceived by the frame 140, as described hereinabove in connection withthe handbar device 22. Each of the ends 90, 92 of the member 88 have anopening therein adapted to be positioned adjacent to a complementaryopening in the respective ends of the handbar members 24a, 26a.

Threaded fasteners are inserted through the respective openings in theends 90, 92 so that upon tightening thereof the handbar members 24a, 26aare secured to their respective ends of the member 88. When the threadedfasteners are loosened the handbar members 24a, 26a may be repositionedto establish a new gripping angle and the threaded fasteners may then betightened to fix the new gripping angle.

The handgrip portions 84a may be in any position with respect to therotational axis 31a and the members 24a, 260 may be oppositelypositioned. For example, the handbar member 24a may be in the positionshown in FIG. 4 in solid lines and the handbar member 260 in theposition shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4.

A second representative embodiment of the turntable is shown in FIGS. 5and 6 and due to its similarity in design with the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, and for ease of description, common reference numerals will beused in connection with the description thereof, with the suffix bappended thereto.

The turntable 12b is mounted on the member b in a manner as hereinabovedescribed. The turntable 12b has a slot 96 therein adapted to slidablyreceive the pin 98 therein. The pin 98 is preferably removably securedto the member 20b. As shown in the drawings, the pin 98 is secured tothe member 20b by welding and extends vertically from the surface 40.The turntable 12b is positioned so that the slot 96 receives the pin 98therein to prohibit rotation of the turntable 12b with respect to themember 20b or the ground.

As the turntable 12b is wobbled in the manner such that its peripheraledge 18b contacts the surface 40, no rotation of the turntable 12b withrespect to the ground will occur. It should be understood that the pin98 is simply used to prohibit rotation of the turntable 12b with respectto the ground, if such is desired.

It should be apparent from the above description that the presentinvention provides an exercising device which is versatile and allowssimulation of many various exercises which exercise many various partsof the b ast I claim is:

1. An exercising device for use by an exerciser comprising a turntablefor supporting the feet of the exerciser, a frame means for pivotallysupporting said turntable for universal pivotal movement about a point,said turnable having an outer peripheral edge dimensioned to bepositionable to have a continuous rolling contact with a fixed memberlying in a plane disposed from said point, said continuous rollingcontact being induced by leaning of the exerciser thereby creating awobbling action of the turntable, a handbar device including a pair ofhandbar members each of which may be gripped by the hands of theexerciser, means for connecting said handbar members, and means foradjusting the positions of said handbar members with respect to eachother, said frame means rotatably receiving said handbar device andconstraining movement of said handbar members to a fixed circular path,said handbar members being rotatable about an axis such that saidhandbar members move in the fixed circular path when rotated by thehands of the exerciser.

2. An exercising device for use by an exerciser as defined in claim 1wherein said frame means includes a plurality of frame members and meansfor detachably connecting said frame members to disassemble said framemembers to compact dimensions for storage or shipping.

3. An exercising device for use by an exerciser as defined in claim 1wherein said frame means includes means for adjusting the position ofthe axis of rotation of said handbar device with respect to saidturntable.

1. An exercising device for use by an exerciser comprising a turntablefor supporting the feet of the exerciser, a frame means for pivotallysupporting said turntable for universal pivotal movement about a point,said turnable having an outer peripheral edge dimensioned to bepositionable to have a continuous rolling contact with a fixed memberlying in a plane disposed from said point, said continuous rollingcontact being induced by leaning of the exerciser thereby creating awobbling action of the turntable, a handbar device including a pair ofhandbar members each of which may be gripped by the hands of theexerciser, means for connecting said handbar members, and means foradjusting the positions of said handbar members with respect to eachother, said frame means rotatably receiving said handbar device andconstraining movement of said handbar members to a fixed circular path,said handbar members being rotatable about an axis such that saidhandbar members move in the fixed circular path when rotated by thehands of the exerciser.
 1. An exercising device for use by an exercisercomprising a turntable for supporting the feet of the exerciser, a framemeans for pivotally supporting said turntable for universal pivotalmovement about a point, said turnable having an outer peripheral edgedimensioned to be positionable to have a continuous rolling contact witha fixed member lying in a plane disposed from said point, saidcontinuous rolling contact being induced by leaning of the exerciserthereby creating a wobbling action of the turntable, a handbar deviceincluding a pair of handbar members each of which may be gripped by thehands of the exerciser, means for connecting said handbar members, andmeans for adjusting the positions of said handbar members with respectto each other, said frame means rotatably receiving said handbar deviceand constraining movement of said handbar members to a fixed circularpath, said handbar members being rotatable about an axis such that saidhandbar members move in the fixed circular path when rotated by thehands of the exerciser.
 2. An exercising device for use by an exerciseras defined in claim 1 wherein said frame means includes a plurality offrame members and means for detachably connecting said frame members todisassemble said frame members to compact dimensions for storage orshipping.